depend

[ dih-pend ]

/ dɪˈpɛnd /

verb (used without object)

to rely; place trust (usually followed by on or upon): You may depend on the accuracy of the report.

to rely for support, maintenance, help, etc. (usually followed by on or upon): Children depend on their parents.

to be conditioned or contingent (usually followed by on or upon): His success here depends upon effort and ability.

to be undetermined or pending: I may go to Europe or I may not, it all depends.

Grammar. (of a word or other linguistic form) to be subordinate to another linguistic form in the same construction; to form a part of a construction other than the head.

to hang down; be suspended (usually followed by from): The chandelier depends from the ceiling of the ballroom.

Nearby words

departmentalism, departmentalize, departure, depasture, depauperate, depend, dependable, dependant, dependence, dependency, dependency-prone

Origin of depend

1375–1425; late Middle English dependen < Old French dependre < Latin dēpendere to hang down, equivalent to dē- de- + pendere to hang

Related forms

in·ter·de·pend, verb (used without object)re·de·pend, verb (used without object)self-de·pend·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for depends

Russia depends on oil exports for almost 70 percent of its foreign-currency earnings and almost 50 percent of its annual budget.
How Crimea Crashed the Russian Economy|Anna Nemtsova|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So it depends on what side of the track you want to come from.
‘No Regrets’: Peter Jackson Says Goodbye to Middle-Earth|Alex Suskind|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But look, it depends on how old I am [laughs], and whether I have the energy anymore.
‘No Regrets’: Peter Jackson Says Goodbye to Middle-Earth|Alex Suskind|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It depends on the archaeologist and the circumstances, but I think they would all take their sweet time if they could.
The Real-Life Raiders of the Lost Ark|Alex Belth|November 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST

It all depends on whose economic interests define your perspective.
What Brazil’s Dilma Rousseff Can Teach Hillary Clinton|Heather Arnet|October 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It will be observed that the time of exposure also depends on the thickness of the paper used for the original.
Scientific American Supplement, No. 384, May 12, 1883|Various
To him it is indebted for its existence, and on his will depends the duration of that existence.
The Principles of Masonic Law|Albert G. Mackey
It depends a lot on who they air that's a-takin' the course.
Gideon's Band|George W. Cable
The goodness of all delicate cake, but specially of sponge, depends very much upon its being made with fresh eggs.
The Young Housekeeper's Friend|Mrs. (Mary Hooker) Cornelius
What we want, depends wholly upon our situation and surroundings, and each must answer it for himself.
The Principles of Breeding|S. L. Goodale

British Dictionary definitions for depends

depend

/ (dɪˈpɛnd) /

verb (intr)

(foll by on or upon) to put trust (in); rely (on); be sure (of)

(usually foll by on or upon; often with it as subject) to be influenced or determined (by); be resultant (from)whether you come or not depends on what father says; it all depends on you

(foll by on or upon) to rely (on) for income, support, etc

(foll by from) rare to hang down; be suspended

to be undecided or pending

Word Origin for depend

C15: from Old French dependre, from Latin dēpendēre to hang from, from de- + pendēre to hang

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012